 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Peter Ndumbe, MD, PhD, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde, Cameroon, University of Yaounde, P.O. Box 4334, Yaounde, Cameroon, 237-231-05-86, pndumbe@yahoo.com
Cameroon has engaged in a process of using the Benchmarks of Fairness through two workshops during the year 2002, organized by the University of Yaounde. Participants have included Ministry of Health, universities, civil society and multiple international organizations. The workshops have served the purposes of identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the health system, familiarizing health personnel, faculty and students with the Benchmarks, and examining their potential usefulness for health care reform. A series of 73 indicators relating to the benchmarks was developed through careful work by District Medical Officers. These indicators were reviewed during the second workshop, and coupled with the training of medical students for their uses in evidence-based evaluation of 14 districts during the students’ field postings. An important purpose of the Benchmarks and related indicators is to provide health workers and the MOH with a policy tool for the evaluation of overall fairness of the health system and proposed reforms. A number of weaknesses were identified. As one example, there is a need for change in culture within government so that citizen/community involvement is seen as an integral part of the policy process. The present process in the field testing of the indicators in Cameroon will culminate in: faculty workshops to refine the criteria; a national workshop for consideration of the indicators by all stakeholders; use of the benchmarks to collect baseline data for health centers nationwide; and use of the benchmarks by DMOs as a management tool. ACOSHED (African Council for Sustainable Health Development) has invited Peter Ndumbe to present the Cameroon experience with the Benchmarks in Abuja, Nigeria, July 2003.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.